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Khare concert showcases talent of - and support for- PGSO
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This special fund-raising concert in support of the PGSO was generously sponsored by Brink Forest Products Ltd.
Review by Valerie Giles - Special Report to the Prince George Citizen
| It was a packed, full house at Vanier Hall on Sunday afternoon as friends of the symphony and the performers took to their seats for a celebration of the town’s talent. This was a special concert organized with a great deal of work by Veera Khare acting as producer and special guest performer. As someone who got her start as a musician and performer in Prince George, she has a special place in her heart when it comes to a benefit in support of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. |
At the opening, PGSO General Manager made a point of thanking this concert’s corporate sponsors—The Citizen, the Pattison group of companies, and Brink Forest Products Ltd. for their longstanding support. He then called upon Deputy Premier Shirley Bond and Mayor Colin Kinsley. Each spoke of their personal commitment to help the symphony – citing it as one of the important features which helps identify this city and enhances its reputation as an appealing place to live and do business.
From there, the entertainment began as the elegantly-gowned Veera Khare swept onto the stage and got into a jazzy version of Fly Me To The Moon. Asking for the house lights to be turned up, she could then see the full house and asked that the audience participate when called upon. The crowd responded immediately, accommodating her request to keep the beat by snapping fingers as she belted out the classic sultry song, Fever.
The first duet paired the personalities of Khare and Ken Kilcullen who obviously had fun rehearsing and performing They Can’t Take That Away From Me. The old standard was playful and sentimental – the way it was meant to be sung.
For Autumn Leaves, the quartet was joined by Roxie Dykstra on viola. They accompanied Khare whose strong and steady voice carried over a calypso beat. Immediately following, the PGSO Brass Quartet played selections as the star performer disappeared for a costume change.
Returning to the stage, Khare praised the talent being developed in Prince George and said she enjoys encouraging them. With that, she introduced a young soprano, Shante Van Horlick, who sang in duet the hauntingly beautiful melodies of Fly, one of Khare’s own compositions. Khare also accompanied on the piano while singing the duet.
Colours Of The Wind featured energetic young dancers in diaphanous costumes and dancers also surrounded the guest star as she sang Can You Feel The Love Tonight – the collaboration of lyricist Tim Rice and composer Elton John for The Lion King.
The afternoon’s entertainment literally had something for everybody. It is rare to experience a performance with the range of talent embodied in Khare. The program included something for every musical taste – opera, Broadway show tunes, jazz, and familiar old standards. As if that weren’t enough, she also sang in English, Italian, French and Hindi.
For most of the performance’s second half, conductor Leslie Dala accompanied the featured artist as she invited other artists to join her on stage. With a nod to her heritage, she included East Indian hand drums on Journey Home, featuring Sumeet and Navjit Parmar.
Next came the Pie Jesu, the beautiful prayer composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. For many in the audience, Khare’s version was indistinguishable from Sarah Brightman’s.
A medley with mezzo-soprano Catherine Hansen made for a pleasant pairing of voices as they reprised some of the favourite songs from West Side Story and each got to play with the playfulness of those lyrics.
Making a delightful contribution – and previewing their upcoming performance of “Clowns” – the Bel Canto Senior Choir performed to the high standards encouraged by their conductor, Gerda Wilson. As the choir left the stage, Khare announced “Gerda Wilson conducts the Bel Canto Choir, and she’s been amazing. What a lot of talent!”
Near the end, soprano Lindsay Freeman performed the Lakme Duet with Khare – and earned a special call back to acknowledge the audience’s appreciative response.
It was then time for the symphony’s conductor to speak to his audience. Leslie Dala said “I am quite simply overwhelmed. This is no concert. This is an extravaganza! There is so much talent on this stage. In music there are no borders. No matter what your musical genre, it is one big family. A special thanks to the Khare family who have been a force in bringing us all here together. We have in Veera a world-class performer who has come back to be with us today.”
The standing ovation started as the last notes were being played. To say it was an exuberant expression would be a form of understatement. With that, Veera Khare returned to the stage for what most expected would be an encore. Instead, with the audience already on its feet, she said she’d lead us in singing our national anthem. It has been a long time since O Canada was sung with such enthusiasm. It was a moment.
Dr. Umesh and Kanak Khare and John and Sharon Brink have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in coming forward with unstinting support for the arts in Prince George. If every individual and family with affection for and interest in supporting the symphony makes a similar effort, then the future financial stability of the PGSO will be assured.
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